Milei Retreats to Olivos, Focuses on International Right-Wing and AI

Argentine President Javier Milei has increasingly retreated to the presidential residence in Olivos, spending more time in solitude and with a significantly reduced public schedule compared to earlier in his administration. He has not visited the Casa Rosada, the seat of government, in ten days, with his last official activity there involving meetings related to Israel and the 2026 Maccabiah Games delegation.

This pattern of isolation, minimizing official activities, infrequent cabinet meetings, and avoiding provincial tours, has become more pronounced, signaling a deliberate withdrawal from routine governance. Sources close to Milei suggest that even those in daily dialogue with him feel certain topics cannot be broached, indicating an internal as well as external “impenetrable wall.”

Shift in Official Communication

The President has acknowledged the impracticality of Manuel Adorni serving as the official spokesperson. This comes weeks after segments of the ruling party raised concerns about the role. The position will now be filled by Congressman Adrián Ravier, who shares Milei’s economic theories and has a direct relationship with the President. This appointment, reportedly a personal preference, is being analyzed within the context of internal political dynamics between Karina Milei and Santiago Caputo, though neither is said to have influenced the decision.

International Engagements and Travel Habits

Despite expressing a dislike for travel, Milei holds the record for the most days spent abroad among Argentine presidents in the last 18 years, with 122 days overseas since his inauguration. This figure surpasses Cristina Kirchner’s 112 days during the same period of her first term. Milei’s international travel has been concentrated, with the United States being his most frequent destination, visited 17 times. His admiration for Donald Trump and interest in the upcoming 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4th in Washington D.C. is notable. While official confirmation of his attendance at the U.S. Independence Day celebrations is pending, sources within the Casa Rosada have indicated his likely presence.

Right-Wing Network and Political Alliances

Milei maintains strong ties with the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) community. Recent international political developments, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s public denial of seeking a photo with Trump and tensions between U.S. and Israeli leadership, highlight the complex dynamics within this network. Milei is also reportedly monitoring potential victories for allies in regional elections, including Keiko Fujimori in Peru and Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia, viewing these as extensions of a broader right-wing wave across South America. This trend is seen as a counterpoint to the left-wing surge of 2011, though a potential rise of Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil could shift regional influence.

Focus on Artificial Intelligence

During his time in Olivos, Milei has dedicated attention to the field of Artificial Intelligence. Minister of Deregulation Federico Sturzenegger is a key figure in this area, advocating for a legislative proposal that would establish automated societies without direct human involvement. This initiative has drawn commentary, including a response from historian Yuval Harari in the Financial Times, to which Milei reportedly replied in a more measured tone than his typical style. The proposed legal framework aims to attract foreign investment by limiting risk to corporate assets, as AI agents cannot face criminal charges. Milei believes that autonomous systems, facing liquidation as a consequence of legal violations, would have more at stake than human executives, thereby fostering greater corporate diversity. This assertion, however, remains a subject of debate.

Key facts

The President’s strategic seclusion in Olivos appears to be a period of focused deliberation on international political alignments and the future of technology, particularly artificial intelligence. His engagement with global right-wing movements and his administration’s push for innovative AI governance frameworks signal a forward-looking agenda, even as domestic political intricacies continue to shape his presidency.

Source: Clarin Deportes – https://www.clarin.com/politica/presidente-redefine-pasos-soledad-olivos_0_MQ57toWX3J.html